
DIMENSIONS OF DIVINE BLESSINGS: THE IMPORTANT ROLE FOOD, SACRIFICE AND GIVING PLAY IN ATTRACTING IRREVOCABLE BLESSINGS
By
Pastor D.A Ilesanmi (PhD)
DIMENSIONS OF DIVINE BLESSINGS : THE IMPORTANT ROLE FOOD, SACRIFICE AND GIVING PLAY IN ATTRACTING IRREVOCABLE BLESSINGS
BY
Pastor Dele Ilesanmi Bamigbade ( PhD )
Numbers 23:20:
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse (revoke) it.
Proverbs 10-22:
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it
PREAMBLE
As much as I wish to package or present this piece in a scholarly form, I discover that this work goes beyond academic phraseology and orotundity or grandiloquence. It should be noted here that spiritual messages are not within the purview of secular academic work; they are divine revelations under the auspices of the Holy Spirit. This is what this writer calls pneumatogogy or pneumagogy. Thus, this marks a clear distinction between a spiritual scholarly work and secular scholarly work. The secular academics or scholars operate within the purview of human nature while the spiritual-theological academics or scholars operate on a supernatural plane that falls within the ambit of the directives of the Holy Spirit through theological and biblical lens. Hence, the work of this nature goes beyond the secular theological and academic rhetoric or magniloquence.
Blessings are in different categories. We have spiritual blessings, physical blessings, material blessings, and so on. There are also divine blessings, human blessings, and satanic blessings. There are other types or categories of blessings that this writer will not be able to discuss her because of limited time. Such blessings are: outpouring blessings (Malachi 3:10); overtaking blessings (Deut. 28:2); for-Joseph-sake blessings (Genesis 39:5); added blessings (Matthew 6:33); Prevailed blessings (Genesis 49:26); commanded blessings (Deut. 28:8); Cursed blessings (Malachi 2:2); common blessings; special blessings; irrevocable blessings; and many more – all these categories of blessings can manifest in form of spiritual, physical, or material blessings. But when we talk about IRREVOCABLE BLESSINGS, they are exclusive preserve of God – no one has the capacity to release irrevocable blessings to anyone without God’s involvement. Thus, irrevocable blessings are a type or category of blessing that is absolutely the exclusive right of God to bestow on man. God who has the exclusive authority and right to give blessings also has the same exclusive authority and right to withdraw blessings. That is why He is God. Job testifies to this in Job 1:21when he says, “…the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD”. This is an eloquent testimony of total acceptability of Divine Absolutism. I call it “Divine Absolutism” because only infinite God has such exclusivism or exclusivity of power.
Similarly, the Book of Numbers 23:19-26 demonstrate Divine Absolutism:
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! 24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. 25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. 26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do? (emphasis, mine)
WHAT IS IRREVOCABLE BLESSING?
This is a blessing from God that remains irretrievable, or irreversible, or unalterable, or unchangeable, or permanent except the Giver of the blessing, God, who has the exclusive power to reverse it. All other blessings can be reversible except the divine blessings. When God blesses you, you are blessed indeed. Similarly, when God curses you, you are cursed indeed – God forbid. Nobody is able to reverse a divine blessing or curse, except the LORD Himself. He has the exclusive power to do and undo – that is why He is God.
Divine blessings are irreversible in nature. However, God may be forced to cancel or reverse your blessings if you fall below expectations and fail to make amends before it is too late. It should be noted here that no man has the right and power to reverse the blessing that God has given you. The moment you are blessed by God, you are indeed blessed. No man can revoke it. This is very clear in the Book of Numbers 22- 23 when the King of Moab, Balak hired Balaam to curse the children of God, the Israelites, but in Numbers 23:19-20:
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Intriguingly, even the man who places a blessing on you cannot reverse it. When Jacob stole the blessing of Esau, Isaac could not reverse it:
35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord (master), and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? (Gen.27: 35-37).
Here, Jacob’s blessings were irreversible. A loss to Esau became a gain to Jacob. Though Isaac, their father, has the right to pronounce blessings upon his children, he has no power to withdraw them. If God has sanctioned your blessings, no one can revoke them if you are of God. Isaac had already pronounced the blessings on Jacob before the arrival of his brother, Esau, when he ate the venison prepared by him (Jacob) and the father could not withdraw them. When God has blessed you, no man can reverse it, except God or you. You can reverse your blessings yourself by telling God that you do not need His blessings. When you work below expectations or you fail Him, or you fail to keep your own side of bargain, you are telling Him that you do not want His blessings like Eli:
Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed (1Samuel 2:30).
Similarly, Ephraim, is another person who failed God and his blessings were revoked. After God had blessed him, he forgot God. God pleaded with him to retrace his steps but he remained recalcitrant. Ephraim preferred to serve Baal to serve God. After several warnings, and attempts to salvage him from destruction, he told God: your blessings are of no use to me. God now said in Hosea 4:17: “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.” You will never get to that stage where God will decide that you should be left alone. In Hosea 5:9, God continued His rebuke of Ephraim: “Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.” We need to pay more attention to God’s statement here: “Ephraim shall be desolate…” This statement is not for someone who is poor; who is nothing in the society. It is a statement of fact that the same God who had blessed Ephraim decided to bring him down to nothing. You not be desolate in Jesus’ name. Nonetheless, the ball is in your court. The thought of God towards us is good not evil, is of peace and not of calamity (Jer.29:11). He creates evil and He makes peace: I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” The Bible says:
7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them (1Sam.2:7, 8). “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another”(Ps.75:6, 7)
You can’t query Him and you can’t report Him to anyone. He does what pleases Him. Thus, if you refuse to make amends quickly, God will have no option than to reverse your blessings. Where is Eli of this world? Where is King Saul of this world? Where is Samson of this world? Where is Abiola MKO of this world? All their blessings were revoked because they failed God.
WHY SOME BLESSINGS ARE REVOKED
Disobedient to God ( 1Sam.15; cf. Lk.9:23-24 )
Sins (Isa.59:1-2 )
Pride ( Dan.5:20 )
Failure to live by the terms of the divine assignment/ covenant (1Sam.2:30). God can revoked or reverse a blessing or promise if the recipient defaults in the terms of His covenant. For instance, God reversed the promise He made to Eli when he and his sons failed to live by the terms of the covenant that made them God’s priests (1 Samuel 2:30). “If God decides to bless you and you mess up, He can change a blessing to a curse.”
CONDITIONS TO ENJOY IRREVOCABLE BLESSINGS
Your obedience to God must be total
Your love towards God must be total
Your giving and sacrifice must be total
Your commitment must be total
Your relationship with God through Jesus Christ must be total
THE IMPORTANT ROLE FOOD, SACRIFICE AND GIVING PLAY IN ATTRACTING IRREVOCABLE BLESSINGS
Genesis 18:1-14: Here, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, entertained three divine visitors; they gave them food to eat and water to drink. After the visitors ate the food prepared by Sarah, Abraham and his wife were blessed with the long awaited miracle (Isaac), and that blessing remains permanent till today. This is an example of irrevocable blessing:
“1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Notes: It is good to feed visitors, strangers or those you don’t even know. Till today, the blessing of Abraham – the son Isaac – is permanent because the family entertained their visitors. Today, Abraham is a blessing. Everyone is now claiming Abraham’s blessing: “Abraham’s blessings are mine…” is the common song in the church today, especially when collecting offerings from the congregation.
Genesis 27: 1-40 Jacob gave his father venison to eat. After eating, his father, Isaac, pronounced irreversible blessings on Jacob, his second son – This is Power of Food:
“1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4 And make me savoury meat(food), such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. 5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat(food), that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat(food) for thy father, such as he loveth: 10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat(food), such as his father loved. 15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 17 And she gave the savoury meat(food) and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? 19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. 21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. 24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. 25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: 28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: 29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. 30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 And he also had made savoury meat(food), and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. 34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? 38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.”
Note: For your irrevocable Greatness and Blessings, you need to feed your biological and spiritual parents.
I Kings 17:10-16: The widow of Zaraphath gave Elijah food and after he finished eating the food, he blessed her and lack became a thing of the past in her life. Her blessing remained permanent.
“8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
Note: It is good to feed men of God, especially when they come to your house. You can even invite them for a breakfast, lunch or dinner for divine blessings that will be irrevocable or permanent.”
1Kings 4: 8-37: The Shunemite woman and her husband accommodated Elisha, the man of God, in their house; they fed him regularly; and God used him to bless them which resulted in a child. The barren woman became fruitful after taken care of man of God. Even when the child developed sudden headache and died, the child was revived, he came alive, when they brought him to Elisha, the man of God whom God used to pronounce the irrevocable blessing on them. The Shunemite woman’s blessing remained permanent.
“8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. 11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. 15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. 18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. 24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. 25 So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? 29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30 And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. 32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. 34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.”
Note: It is a good think to invite a man of God into your house and entertain him for divine blessings that will be permanent.
Exodus 12:1-30: The children of Israel ate the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion today), after eating, the Lord executed their enemies. There was great cry in the camp of the enemies and every house recorded at least one dead (Exo.12:30). The Lord dealt with their enemies and they could not see them again (Exo.14:13).
“1And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. 21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.”
2Chronicles 1: 6-17 cf. 1Kings 3: 3-15: Here, Solomon, the King, loved the LORD and he was walking in his father’s statues. He sacrificed on the altar at Gibeon by giving one thousand bunt offerings to God. This kind of sacrifice was unusual, unheard-of or unprecedented. Because he did what no one has ever done before, he received from God what no man has ever received before. Till today, no one has ever come near Solomon in terms of wisdom and wealth.
Genesis 19: Lot entertained two Angels who were on destructive assignment which led to them sparing Lot’s family.
Genesis 22: 15-18: Abraham sacrificed his only son, Isaac, to God. God blessed him for his obedience:
“15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
WHAT BRINGS/ INDUCES IRREVOCABLE BLESSING
Obedience to the voice of God (Gen.22:18)
Releasing your most valuable asset or thing to God (Gen. 22:16)
Giving to God
Feeding one’s parents (Gen 27:1-40)
Giving to men of God (1 Kings 17:8-16; cf. Lk.6:38)
Feeding God
Feeding men of God or caring for men of God (1Kings 4: 8-37; 1 Kings 17:8-16)
Uncommon sacrifice to God (2Chronicles 1: 6-17 cf. 1Kings 3: 3-15)
Partaking in the Holy Communion (Exodus 12:1-30)
Entertaining visitors (Gen. 18:1-14).
The next question to ask now is: what is the food of God? The answer is PRAISE. We shall continue from here next time to reveal another dimensions of irrevocable blessings. Shalom.
